Rondo's biggest problem is consistency ... and that's something that comes with age and experience ... he's getting there, but has a ways to go. I don't see how people can criticize his passing, or attacking the basket ... he can do both extremely well, and only struggles because he's so hot and cold, like the rest of the team.
This kid has been given more responsibility than any point guard of his age, and that should always be kept in mind when assessing his performance. The times Rondo plays the best is when he's given the go-ahead to play his game ... when Doc tells him to attack the basket and not worry about set plays. Every time he does, it's like Rage is a different player, and it's fun to watch.
When it comes to following Doc's bizarre rotations, and never knowing whether he's going to be called on to play 40+ minutes, or be sitting on the bench for half the game, the kid gets a bit confused and inconsistent, and I honestly don't see why anyone's surprised. Doc's coaching follows very little logic or rationale, and any team or player under him is bound to have periods of lapses in judgement, and irregular performances.
All this analysis of our players and match-ups is great, but until we fix the main problem, the major "fly in the ointment", so to speak, these up-and-down performances are going to continue. When a team and it's players aren't put in the best position to win every game, then the result will be questionable, at best. Sorry, I really like Doc as a person, but the focus in all these threads is not in the right place.
All these players have their respective faults, but unless they're given the correct tools with which to deal with those faults, it's just not going to realize their full potential.
Bahku, dude, you know I love ya, but do we need to vent our Doc frustrations in a thread discussing Rondo's comparisons to other players and his long term efficacy? 
You know, when I began typing this, Nick, I had no intention of mentioning Doc, and yet it just naturally progressed to there, as so much
does for me these days. I was also thinking at the time: Hmmmm ... strange how this got back to the coach ... I'm sure someone will jump on that! (Seems the things I'm always right about, are the things I don't
want to be right about ... alas, such is life). Anyway, the short answer is: Yes, I guess we
DO, especially if he, (Doc), is at the root of some of Rondo's problems, (at least partially).
When a player, especially a young player like Rage, is being given mixed signals from his coach, and told one night to stick closely to the plays called, then the next night being told to just play "his game", then it
has to affect that players game, and add confusion to the mix. I honestly think that's where a
lot of Rondo's shortcomings originate, and that's a large part of what's being discussed here. He's a young guy who's been given an
exceptional amount of responsibility for a guy at his age and experience, (in fact, there are very few comparisons), and he's trying extremely hard to not only deal with this platter handed him, but to listen to his coaches/mentors, grow and learn what they're trying to teach him, and do his best to communicate that on the floor with his team-mates.
I don't think a lot of people here take into consideration the
immense pressures and mantles that this (barely) 2nd year kid has had to take on. Those responsibilities
alone would be enough to rattle and compromise the efficacy of most young men his age, and yet he accepts it with humility and grace, and goes about trying to do his best on a performance level, and please the powers-that-be at the same time. Honestly, when I stop to consider these things, along with how he has
easily exceeded expectations this year and done an amazing job, (he's a good part of why we have the best record in the NBA, after all), I'm truly
astonished that he hasn't had a total melt-down! (Many players in the same situation and at the same age would certainly do so).
I guess that when I see all this criticism and analysis, I feel a bit of responsibility to make sure this whole thing is kept in
context, and that people are reminded from time-to-time, just how much this kid has taken on, and how extremely well he's done despite all the confusion, rotation changes, different people giving him advice/instructions, criticism at different levels, other players he's trying to please, and on and on. I certainly don't think that most people here
aren't aware of these things, especially you, (for you're one of the most objective bloggers here), but I
do see things in this thread that made me just want to put a reminder forth ... and just post a small reality check.
I truly feel that it won't be too many years before we're all touting this young man's contributions as one of the
best point guards in the NBA ... possibly even one of the greats. Time will tell for sure, but the incredible growth and improvement I've witnessed in this kid this year, if applied on a yearly basis, is going to make for a very interesting, fun transformation to watch, and I'm
extremely glad that he's
ours. So let the analysis go on ... I've said my piece. But let's try to remember the mountain of responsibility that Rage is carrying on his shoulders, and the truly
awesome gift we've been given in acquiring this very talented, very determined young point guard! Go C's!
(TP for the sentiment, Bud ... and the
awesome post that I neglected to copy in entirety for the sake of space ... right back atcha!)
Topic: Rondo might turn out be at best a leandro barbosa type (Read 15422 times)